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How to Create Task Relations with Delays

Introduction

In Easy Gantt, you can visually connect tasks with time-based dependencies using drag & drop. These connections, known as task relations, can include delays that control the spacing between tasks. This guide explains how to create, adjust, and manage task relations with delays, including how to work with locked and unlocked dependencies.

Target Audience

  • User

Prerequisites

  • Easy Gantt module enabled
  • Edit tasks and Manage task relations permissions
  • Access to a project with tasks visible in Gantt

Steps

1. Enable Edit Mode

  • Open your Easy Gantt chart
  • Click on Tools and enable Edit mode

2. Create a Task Relation with Delay

  • Hover your mouse over the end of a task bar
  • A green circle appears—this is the handle for creating a relation
  • Click and hold the circle, then drag to another task and release
  • This creates a predecessor-follower relation with a default delay

The delay is shown as a number above the relation line:

  • Without brackets: Preserved delay
  • In brackets: Actual current delay

Managing Delays in Task Relations

Unlock and Adjust Delays

  • Click on the relation line to toggle between locked and unlocked modes:
    • Yellow = Locked (fixed)
    • Green = Unlocked (flexible)
  • To change a delay manually:
    • Right-click the relation and set a delay in days
    • Or unlock the relation and drag the follower task

Behavior by Delay Type

Color Type Description
Yellow Locked (fixed) Follower task moves when the predecessor moves; delay is preserved
Green Unlocked (flexible) Follower task stays in place; delay changes with task movement

When a delay is edited, the relation automatically becomes locked again.

Optional: Use "Unfix Relations" for Complex Edits

  • In complex projects, one move can affect many tasks
  • To prevent unwanted shifting:
    • Go to Tools → Unfix relations
    • This converts all relations to unlocked while editing
    • Move tasks freely without shifting all following tasks
    • After saving, new delays are applied and original locked states return when toggled off

Error Prevention

Locked relations may cause movement restrictions, like:

  • Violating milestone dates
  • Exceeding allowed task timing
  • Causing project-wide shifts

Use the Unfix relations option to avoid these issues while making large changes.

Conclusion

Creating and managing task relations with delays in Easy Gantt gives you full control over task sequences and timing. With visual editing, lock/unlock options, and the Unfix feature, you can manage dependencies flexibly—even in complex project structures.

Further Reading

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